Saving Baby Lawrence

An operation might save a baby boy's life, and it might be his only chance.

An operation might save a baby boy's life, and it might be his only chance.

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Updated: 8:12 AM CDT Mar 31, 2014

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WEBVTT AN OPERATION MIGHT SAVE A BABY BOY'S LIFE.. AND IT MIGHT BE HIS ONLY CHANCE. HIS DISORDER IS SO RARE.. AND THE TREATMENT IS SO NEW..HIS FAMILY HAS HAD TO FIGHT TO GET MEDICAID TO PAY FOR IT. BUT TONIGHT..THERE IS NEW HOPE AS A MOTHER BATTLES TO KEEP HER BABY ALIVE. ( NAT: 'aahh, peekaboo!' <laughs>) HIS FACE LIGHTS UP AT A GAME OF PEEKABO.. THE REST OF THE TIME.. LAWRENCE'S EYES .. NEVER LEAVE HIS MOMMA.( Shalina Bolden/Mom: His favorite things are making noise.. And all of his nurses, he loves his nurses to death.) HE KNOWS áTHEM WELL.. LAWRENCE HAS BEEN IN THIS HOSPITAL BED SINCE NOVEMBER.. IN AND OUT OF CHILDREN'S.. HIS ENTIRE LIFE.. HE'S ONLY 11 MONTHS OLD.( Bolden: Lawrence has what's called complete Di'George. He's the first child in Nebraska to even have Di'George completely where he has the heart defect, he has lung issues, that's why he's hooked up to the trach, and he has immune deficiency. He has no immune system.)( Petersen: In order for us to even visit Lawrence, to see him in his hospital room, we had to suit up; gloves, masks.. Because something like the common cold, which would give us a cough, or a runny nose, would be devastating for baby Lawrence.)( NAT: Grad ahold of the bar.. There you go!) DOCTORS INITIALLY TOLD SHALINA BOLDEN HER SON MIGHT HAVE TWO YEARS.. NOW.. SHE HAS HOPE.. A THYMUS TRANSPLANT AT DUKE UNIVERSITY.. THE THYMUS GLAND TEACHES T-CELLS HOW TO BATTLE INFECTIONS. DR. LOUISE MARKERT IS THE ONLY SURGEON IN THE COUNTRY DOING THE PROCEDURE.( Dr. Markert: We have done 68 children with DiGeorge who are similar to Lawrence, and the survival rate is 74%.) DOCTOR MARKERT TELLS US DUKE IS WORKING TO GET THIS TRANSPLANT FEDERALLY APPROVED.. BUT RIGHT NOW, IT IS NOT.. BECAUSE OF THAT..NEBRASKA'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TOLD SHALINA BOLDEN.. AND US.. "THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES CERTIFIES (HOSPITALS) FOR SPECIFIC TRANSPLANTS..IF ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT MET, DHHS HAS NO AUTHORITY TO EXPEND MEDICAID DOLLARS.. AND MEDICAID IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO DENY A REQUEST FOR COVERAGE OF THE TRANSPLANT."( Bolden: He's fought hard for his life.He's been through two heart surgeries, he has a trach, he's had three feeding tube placements and every time he's come out of it strong.)( Bolden: I just want Lawrence to have a chance at life. To understand what it's like to not be in a hospital bed.) THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME DR. MARKERT HAS HEARD OF A CHILD BEING DENIED MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR THIS PROCEDURE.( Dr. Markert: So many states across the country have made an exception to that, that rule that all procedures must be approved. And it's been so gratifying helping these children across the country.) THE SAME DAY WE INTERVIEWED DOCTOR MARKERT... A DEVELOPMENT IN LAWRENCE'S CASE.. HIS MOM RECEIVED A LETTER.. THAT THE STATE SET ASIDE EARLIER COVERAGE DENIALS.. ADVOCATES WITH BOTH CHILDREN'S.. AND DUKE.. ALONG WITH THE STATE OF NEBRASKA..WORKING TOGETHER TO DEMONSTRATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A TRANSPLANT.. A NEW REVIEW BY MEDICAID.. IS FOCUSING ON CLINICAL INFORMATION.. TRANSPLANT COVERAGE IS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION.( Dr. Markert: I did call her mother. I told her that I was in there with her to try and help.) LAWRENCE TURNS ONE YEAR OLD APRIL 16TH. NO BIRTHDAY PARTY .. CAN'T RISK THE GERMS.. HE CAN'T EAT A CAKE. ááMAYBE NEXT YEAR.( Bolden: Lawrence is still fighting, so I'm still fighting for him.)( Bolden: Give Baby Lawrence a chance at life.) SHALINA BOLDEN WORKS FULL TIME AT MAPLE CREST CARE CENTER.. SHE ALSO HAS TWO OTHER CHILDREN. SHE AND LAWRENCE'S SISTERS VISIT HIM AT THE HOSPITAL EVERY NIGHT. THE FAMILY IS LOOKING FOR ANY HELP THEY CAN GET.. THEY'RE HAVING A SPAGHETTI FEED APRIL 13TH AT ELKS LODGE AT 24TH AND LAKE.. THEY ALSO HAVE A GO-FUND-ME ACCOUNT SET UP.. WE'VE GOT LINKS TO ALL OF THIS, ON KETV.COM. BILL'S HERE TO UPDATE THE FORECAST.

Saving Baby Lawrence

An operation might save a baby boy's life, and it might be his only chance.